One Day Left in the 2014-2015 Heavy Harmonies Donation Drive!

March 30, 2015 -
One day left to go, and we've inched up to 32% of the goal. If you enjoy
using Heavy Harmonies and haven't donated yet, please help out if you can.
Even if you can only
give $5 or $10, every bit helps to keep the site free on an ongoing basis. Thanks to everyone who has donated thus far!

The donation drive will run through March 31, 2015. Read all about the
donation rewards and recognition over on the Heavy Harmonies Message Board. Thank you for supporting Heavy Harmonies!-Dan

The Best of 2002!

Musically, 2002 didn't suck. :) I actually spent more time, money, and energy working on filling in classic holes in my collection as opposed to new material, so it may seem like the field to choose from in each category is a bit sparse. Oh well. :)
3 categories this year: live, metal, and AOR/hard rock.

The Winners:

Kansas - Device-Voice-Drum.Campomedia Music Group. This 2-CD live album brings out the best that Kansas has to offer. The sound quality is excellent, and the performances are energetic. Yes, Walsh's voice shows its age, but this is still damned good stuff.

Sonata Artica - Songs of Silence (Live in Tokyo).Pony Canyon (Korea). Sonata Artica pumps out an excellent blend of melodic power metal; very rich and layered, very harmonic. All of their material translates extreemely well live. If you can, find the version that has the 3-track bonus 2nd disc (the European version does not).

Honorable Mention:

Rhapsody - Power of the Dragon Flame for once again providing gorgeous packaging. I would have liked to see some live footage flesh out the DVD somewhat, but it was cool to see their videos... <BEAVIS>hot goth chicks..hehe hehe</BEAVIS>.

The Winners:

Third Place

Second Place

Sirenia - At Sixes and Sevens.Napalm Records. Wonderful gothic metal from the brains behind Tristania. Ethereal female vocals counterpointed by death vocals, all set against a symphonic metal backdrop.

2002 Heavy Metal Album of the Year

Angel Dust - Of Human Bondage.Century Media. Their best yet; phenomenal modern heavy metal, a blend of Savatage and Nevermore. Heavy, intense, melodic, all the elements are here.

The Winners:

Fourth Place

Def Leppard - X.Island Records. Excellent comeback album. Quite a few people complained that it was too light, but I enjoyed it just fine. The best mix/production of any Leppard album yet, and the trademark harmonies are still there in spades.

Third Place

Arc Angel - Tamorok.Oxford Circus. The 1983 self-titled Arcangel album is considered quintessential AOR by most people. This 2002 album contains remastered and rerecorded material from that album, Jeff Cannata's two solo albums, and new material. Lush production and incredible melodies. No self-respecting AOR fan should be without this album.

Second Place

Dark Sky - Edge of Time.Good Life Music. I really enjoyed
their debut, and thought it would be nearly impossible to top, but they surprised me and released a sophomore effort that knocked my socks off. Crunchier
and more robust, no fillers, great production, and hooks and harmonies everywhere you look! (a good enough CD that there almost was a tie for album of the year).

2002 AOR/Hard Rock Album of the Year

Jaded Heart - The Journey Will Never End.MTM Records. This one came out of left field and knocked me over. Clearly the best album in their discography. Very strong harmonies and hooks galore. Strong album from start to end. Their cover of "Larger Than Life" absolutely rocks.